Re-cutting a main

[ozsailer]

Hello everyone,
Like a lot of people we are budgeting pretty tight at the moment and the new main was going to have to wait for another 12 to 18 months but then I have the oppurtunity of purchasing a brand new main from a Catalina 35 at a 1/3 of a new main and the foot is a tad longer than our current main. Our luff is 11.6 metres but the Catalina main is 14 metres. Does anyone have any information having mains re-cut. Is it a viable proposition. We are only cruisers. A new main in Oz is going to cost minimum of $4000.
Any cutting would be from the foot as everything else fits.


Greg and Sue
Lake Macquarie
NSW
Land Downunder

[sailingdog]

It depends on what kind of sail it is. Some designs, like radial sails, are really best off not cut... a more traditional paneled dacron sail can probably be re-cut without much trouble though. Have you priced how much re-cutting the sail is going to cost you??? If not, I would do that before moving ahead with the purchase. If the cost of the sail and the cost of re-cutting it to fit are more than 60% of the purchase price of a new sail, it might really make more sense to go with a new sail specifically designed for your boat.

[T34C]

I would definatly consult with the sailmaker that you are thinking of using for the cut down. As dog- mentioned the type of layout of the sail will make a difference in possible out come. It will also be a factor where the new tack will fall within the panel.